Maine Cosmetologist Practice Exam 2025 - Free Cosmetology Practice Questions and Study Guide

The term that describes the natural color of an individual's hair is "Base Color." This term specifically refers to the underlying tone of the hair before any chemical treatments or coloring are applied. Base color represents the primary color that is inherent in the hair strands, which can range from black to blonde and includes various shades in between.

Understanding base color is crucial for cosmetologists as it helps them determine how to achieve the desired outcome when dyeing or highlighting hair. For instance, a cosmetologist needs to consider the base color when formulating a hair color, as this will affect how the final color appears.

In contrast, while "hue," "shade," and "pigment" are related to color, they do not specifically refer to the natural color of hair in the way that base color does. Hue generally refers to the type of color itself (red, blue, etc.), shade pertains to the lightness or darkness of a particular hue, and pigment usually refers to the coloring agents used in dyes.